CASTRIES, St. Lucia, March 2nd, 2017 –The Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Anguilla Community College (ACC) to jointly certify Level 1 and 2 Linesmen Training.

The training programme, which will include personnel from the Anguilla Electricity Company Limited (ANGLEC), is to ensure a highly skilled, certified, and dedicated team of linesman professionals. It is a part of CARILEC’S overarching efforts to promote sustainability and capacity building in the electricity industry.

In his remarks at the official signing ceremony for the MoU, CARILEC Executive Director Mr Thomas Hodge said that CARILEC is “focused on improving or facilitating world class electricity services for the people of the region, and we work with utilities anyway we can to support them in this.” Further adding: “We recognize that capacity building is an important tenet of a secure energy infrastructure. Our linesmen have to be able to work at world class standards and improved efficiency so that the industry as a whole will become more efficient.” Mr Hodge emphasized that there is value in developing “home grown” institutions and that CARILEC is “very proud to be part of this and part of the Anguilla Community working together.”

Chief Executive Officer of ANGLEC Mr David Gumbs, also addressing the signing ceremony remarked that: “This is a programme that is very critical for us in trying to develop our team and making sure our team receives the appropriate certifications for two reasons: One (1) the benefit that brings to the company; and Two (2) the development of our people.”

The MoU was signed on February 17 at 10:00 in the morning at the Anguilla Community College’s main conference room. Mr David Gumbs, CEO of ANGLEC; Mr Steve Hodge, Network Operations Engineer, ANGLEC; Mr Rodney Rey, Chairman of the Board of the ACC; Ms Janis Mckeag, TVET Coordinator and Mr Thomas Hodge, Executive Director of CARILEC were in attendance and gave remarks. The ACC intends to commence the training programme by May 2017.